Greetings everyone! And a
special welcome to all the new subscribers! Why not ask your email contacts if they
don't want to subscribe as
well?

This will be the last letter for
this year, I need to do a bit of site maintenance and that takes up quite
a bit of time. I have put quite a few downloadable freebie eBooks in the
freebie section, so scroll down and download to your hearts content. It
has just occurred to me that there might be quite a few Afrikaans speaking
subscribers. My Afrikaans newsletters also have downloadable freebies, so
if you feel like downloading some Afrikaans recipe books
click
here and check out each newsletter. You can subscribe to the Afrikaans
letter by
clicking here.

The recipe section features some
bread recipes, scroll down and enjoy!

Please also look at the Google
ads in the margins of this letter, click if you find something
interesting, I get a few cents commission every time.

If you happen to be on Facebook
come check me out, as from 1st December I will be doing a "12 Days of
Christmas" message for 12 days. I put this together a few years ago and it
was quite popular with my email contacts, this year I will have it on
Facebook.
Find me here.

Just to let
everyone know that I reserve the right to use anything that arrives in my
email inbox either on my website or in my newsletter, unless it clearly
states that I am not allowed to do so.

US$
87,000,000, US$252,000,000, USD$143,000,000, US$158,000,000,
US$15,000,000, the aforementioned amounts are the current jackpots on
overseas Lotto's. Click on the banner to the right and get yourself some
tickets. It's completely safe and who knows, your life could just change
drastically, first time players also get a free ticket!

Photo competition - please vote

Thanks to everyone who has voted
for my photo before, first it made Photo of the Day, then with your help
Photo of the Week (thanx a lot) and now for Photo of the Month.

Now for Photo of the Month,
please click here to access the voting page, and if you happen to like
the little monkey photo, place a tick next to my name and vote!

Much appreciated!

Recipes, Recipes, Recipes

I have decided to simplify the
way I sell my recipe eBook collection.

I am putting them all on one CD
in an English and Afrikaans folder, over 100 recipe eBooks in all. That
means less than R1 a recipe book, a real bargain! Most of the books come
with resale rights so you can sell them individually if you wish.

A manager at a McDonald's in
Brazil sued the company because he said working at the fast-food chain
made him fat -- and he won.

A Brazilian court ordered McDonald's to pay the unidentified plaintiff
$17,500, siding with the man who claimed that he had gained more than 65
pounds during his stint with the company, according to ConsumerAffairs.com.

It wasn't just all those complimentary employee meals that caused him to
balloon from 155 pounds to more than 230, the man said. It was his fear of
"mystery clients" (presumably the Brazilian equivalent of "secret
shoppers"). The manager said that he was so intimidated by the prospect
that these stealth eaters would find his restaurant's food subpar that he
felt he was required to sample menu items every day.

I have joined
and it works, it is not a get rich quick scheme but with patience it can
build up to a useful extra monthly income, it does require a little bit of
marketing as well as a low monthly subscription, but, bottom line, it
works.
This company is definitely not a
scam. Be Motivated Today provides a motivational service and has great
motivational products. The CEO, Arnfried Klein-Werner, is an International
Motivational Speaker. He has tried and studied many systems that don't
work and after 13 years developed a system that actually does work and is
creating an additional income
for many South Africans already. He understands people's
fears and therefore offers a 100% money-back guarantee, if you don't make
money after 6 months. In other words you have nothing to lose.....
You have nothing to lose. I encourage you to visit the website and
register to try the products and service out for free. Click here for more
information. Register as a free trial member then upgrade to start your income
stream.

I received this
email this morning:

Yes, out of
curiosity I visited Be Motivated Today during September 2009, but only
joined during August 2010, what a waste of time!!!.
If I knew what was happening during the year I wasted, man, I would have
joined immediately after I read the details of the setup.
I now have a waiting list of seven on my downline (one already joined as
Silver), the others are bound to join during November and they are jumping
around purely from excitement to get started and its rubbing off on me as
well.
Just one question: My intention is to place an invitation advertisement on
the rear window of my car, do you think it could shake some people out of
their dreams and make them joining us?

Holidays - Make your reservations with ACT Travel

ACT
Travel
"The World awaits - Go Explore!!"
For competitive quotes on all your travel
arrangements.

Mirna is an educational
psychologist from Stellenbosch. She taught at several schools,
amongst others Stellenbosch High School, Bloemhof Girls’ High and Jan
Kriel School for learners with barriers to learning. She is a mother,
loves art, the ocean and children.

Sexual abuse

Those readers living within the borders of South Africa will know that one
of the most popular soapies on South African television is 7de Laan, which
gives us a glimpse into the lives of the people living and loving on 7th
Avenue in Johannesburg. For the past weeks, one of the characters,
Christelle, has been acting very bizarrely. She has woken from
night-terrors, fearing an attack from a stranger, lashed out at the most
unlikely people, even her own mother. She has been having anxiety-filled
delusions and almost seemed to have developed a second personality. The
sound of an old man coughing would put her in a frenzy of fear. Gradually
the plot showed that Christelle is having flash-backs of the time as a
little girl when her grandfather sexually molested her-and that she
believes that her mother had knowledge all along.
Research shows that only 2 out of 10 sexually abuse cases are ever
detected. Although statistics show that sexual abuse usually involve a
male perpetrator towards a female victim, it is also true that boys are
sexually abused more often than one realizes. Children would seldom talk
about molestation because they are too young, too scared or feel somehow
guilty. It is sad to note that sometimes a child would keep it to
him/herself because s/he tried to tell somebody but that s/he would not be
believed.
South African laws oblige doctors, psychologists, social workers and
teachers to report if any abuse towards a child is even suspected. Any
citizen suspecting abuse (physical, emotional or sexual) towards a child
should report it to the police or social services. Don’t argue that the
police or social services will be of no help; we need to let perpetrators
know that it is wrong and that society will not tolerate it at all.
The whole truth is that we should not only protect and teach our boys and
girls about abuse, but more importantly teach and guide our sons how to
respect females and manage their own sexuality. We should speak about
abuse, the signs and the negative impact that it has on society. Citizens
should understand the responsibility to protect, report and work through
abuse. It is necessary in order to break the vicious circle of abuse and
violence.
If you were a victim of sexual abuse –get help at social services,
churches, FAMSA or a psychologist. Do not allow the sins of others to bind
your potential and joy. Work continuously at fighting the hurt and healing
your future. Refuse to stay a victim - for your own sanity and the sake of
your loved ones.
There is help for victims of abuse and there is hope for those who
suffered the degradation -change your future and reach out for the hand
reaching towards you.
And although the scar will always be there, the hurt will dilute so that
you can walk free from anger and resentment.
Blessings from one heart to another.

As we progress in the year 2010,
I want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past
year....
I no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, or have the
waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the
bacteria on the lemon peel.
I can’t use the remote in a hotel room because I don’t know what the last
person was doing
while flipping through the adult movie channels.
I can’t sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what
has happened on it since it was last washed.
I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the
number one pastime
while driving alone is picking one’s nose.
Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine
how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.
I can’t touch any woman’s purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of
a public bathroom.
I MUST SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS to whoever sent me the one about rat poop in
the glue on
envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that
needs sealing.
ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.
I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny
Brown) who is about to die for the 1,387,258th time.
I no longer have any money, but that will change once I receive the
$15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating
in their special e-mail program.
I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out
for me, and St.
Theresa’s Novena has granted my every wish.
I can’t have a drink in a bar because I’ll wake up in a bathtub full of
ice with my kidneys gone.
I can’t eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant
freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers.
I can’t use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water
buffalo on a hot day.
THANKS TO YOU, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I
forward an e-mail to seven
of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.
BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove
toilet stains.
I no longer buy gas without taking someone along to watch the car so a
serial killer doesn’t
crawl in my back seat when I’m filling up.
I no longer drink Pepsi or Fanta since the people who make these products
are atheists who
refuse to put ˜Under God™ on their cans.
I no longer use Cling Wrap in the microwave because it causes seven
different types of cancer.
AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW I can’t boil a cup of water in the
microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face. Disfiguring me for
life.
I no longer go to the movies because I could be pricked with a needle
infected with AIDS when I sit down.
I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a
perfume sample and rob me.
I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al
Qaeda agents in disguise.
And I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a
number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda,
Singapore, and Uzbekistan.
I no longer buy cookies from Neiman- Marcus since I now have their recipe.
THANKS TO YOU I can’t use anyone’s toilet but mine because a big black
snake could be lurking under the seat and cause me instant death when it
bites my butt.
AND THANKS TO YOUR GREAT ADVICE I can’t ever pick up a $2.00 coin dropped
in the parking
lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting to grab
me as I bend over.
I no longer drive my car because buying gas from some companies supports
Al Qaeda, and buying gas
from all the others supports South American dictators.
I can’t do any gardening because I’m
afraid I’ll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off.
If you don’t send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70
minutes, a large dove with
diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon and the
fleas from 120 camels
will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump.
I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next
door neighbor’s ex-mother-in-law's second husband’s cousin’s best friend’s
beautician. . .
Oh, by the way.....
A German scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered
that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their
hand on the mouse.
Don’t bother taking it off now, it’s too late.

P. S.: I now keep my toothbrush in the living room, because I was told by
e-mail that water
sprays over 6 ft. out of the toilet!

South African
National Parks

I will now start a series on the South African National Parks. National
parks offer visitors an unparalleled diversity of adventure tourism
opportunities including game viewing, bush walks, canoeing and exposure to
cultural and historical experiences.

Fifteen of South Africa's 21 national parks offer park or camp-run
accommodation. Most parks and rest-camps have retail facilities and
restaurants. Across the parks, there are a total of 6 000 beds and 1 000
camping and caravan sites, which can accommodate almost
12 000 overnight guests.

Bontebok National Park

Bontebok National Park in the Western Cape is a place of beauty and
peaceful charm, set against the majestic Langeberg Mountains. A part of
the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site, the park always offers
something in bloom.

The park boasts proud achievements in biodiversity conservation, from the
endangered fynbos veld type, coastal renosterveld, to the namesake
bontebok. Once these colourful antelope numbered a mere 17, now the
population sits at around 3 000. The park also offers bird watchers over
200 bird species.

A new section to the newsletter, by Mary Alexander
English has been spoken in South Africa for over 200 years, at least since
the British seized the Cape of Good Hope territory in 1795.
Over the centuries the language has evolved into a distinct dialect, with
a vocabulary strongly influenced by indigenous languages.
The strongest influence is probably from Afrikaans, a local language that
developed out of Dutch. But there are also significant influences from
African languages such as isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho, and the Khoisan and
Nama languages.
Here and there are words imported from other British and Dutch colonies,
such as India and Indonesia, as well as from the languages of other
immigrants, such as Portuguese and Greek.
According to South Africa’s 2001 census, English is spoken as a home
language by 8.2% of the population, one in three of whom are not white.
Roughly half the population is estimated to have a speaking knowledge of
the language.
Below is a glossary of the more common words unique to South African
English.

I am going through the alphabet,
starting with A.

laatlammetjie (laart-lum-et-chie) – noun – Youngest child of a family,
born to older parents and much younger than their siblings. The word means
“late lamb” in Afrikaans.

Kick chicken soup up a notch
When science proved that chicken broth really does help to fight colds, it
secured it's place as a healing food. Chicken soup works in two ways. The
steam rising from the bowl, helps clear congestion, and anti-inflammatory
compounds in the soup slow the movement of neutrophils, white blood cells
that spur the formation of mucus in the lungs and nose. To notch-up your
chicken soup even further, add 2 peeled and crushed garlic cloves to the
simmering soup. Garlic contains antiviral sulphur compound and it is said
to boost the immune system.

Fire up the hair dryer
When you feel a cold coming on, inhaling heated air can stunt it's
severity. Warm air kills rhinoviruses that are working their way up the
nose. In a U.K. test, subjects who breathed warm air had half the symptoms
of those who inhaled air at room temperature. Set your hair dryer to warm
(not hot) and hold it at least 45cm from your face and inhale the warm air
for as long as you can, preferably 20 minutes if possible.

Sip and gargle Echinacea tea
Echinacea purpurea can help to prevent colds, and relieve the symptoms of
colds and flu. It works partly by boosting levels of the chemical
properdin, which strengthens the body's defence mechanisms against
infections. Drinking 3 cups of Echinacea tea a day will guard against
colds. Don't drink them all at one time. Limit your consumption to three
weeks every four to avoid nausea, fevers and other side effects. You can
also gargle the tea up to 3 times a day to soothe a sore throat. Be
careful when you drink this, it may interact with certain medications you
are taking, so discuss it with your doctor before you try this one.

Cool a fever
In the first stages of a cold, you can help your body to bring down a
fever by giving yourself a sponge bath every hour or so. Dip a sponge in
tepid (not cold) water, lightly wring it out and use it to bathe your
face, shoulders, chest and extremities. If the fever persists, drink 1 - 2
cups of ginger tea every few hours. The ginger promotes sweating, which is
the body's way of cooling itself.

Fight coughs with thyme
Thyme is a natural expectorant, so brew a pot of thyme tea to fight a
nagging cough. Just steep 2 Tbsp of dried thyme in 1.5 litres of hot water
for 10 minutes. Strain into a teacup, sweeten with honey, if desired, and
sip a cupful two or three times a day.

Three simple sore throat gargles
Invade the kitchen pantry to cure your sore throat.
Honey - it coats the throat and has mild antibacterial properties. Stir 1
- 3 tsp honey into 1 cup warm water and gargle 2 - 3 times a day.
Salt - salt has been used as a gargle for many centuries because it works
so well. It draws moisture from the mucous membranes and helps to cleanse
the throat of phlegm. Dissolve 1/2 tsp salt in a cup of warm water and
gargle the mixture 3 - 4 times during the day.
Peppermint - the menthol in peppermint helps open the nasal passages,
especially when you gargle strong peppermint tea. Pour 1 cup of boiling
water over 3 peppermint tea bags and let them steep for 4 - 5 minutes.
Gargle with the cooled solution 2 - 3 times a day.

A fiery gulp
For a practical way to get rid of a congested throat, use kitchen staples
honey and Tabasco sauce. Whisk 1 tsp honey into 1 cup of warm water. Now
whisk in 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce or hot chilli sauce. (if this is too spicy,
experiment by adding a few drops at a time). Drink the concoction slowly.
Follow it with a small glass of ginger ale, which will cool the burning
sensation.

Drink a hot toddy before bed
I still see my Granny making us drink this concoction when we were little
kids. In a small glass, mix 1 Tbsp honey, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 slice of
lemon, and add 100ml of ginger brandy to the glass - heat in the
microwave, but do not overheat. Climb into bed and drink this mixture as
hot as you possibly can. You sweat your cold and flu away whilst you
sleep. You can add 2 soluble disprins to the mixture, but this is not
necessary.
Thanks to the Glenacres Superspar Newsletter.
Click here to subscribe.

Words to live by

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your
heart

One Ticket is All It Takes
- all first time registrations get a free ticket!

Not lucky in the SA Lotto? Why not take a chance on
the UK Lotto? Minimum jackpot is Three million pounds (R45 million!) Now you can play the
UK Lotto, Mega Millions, Euro Millions and Powerball and more from the same link.
Give it a try and have some Lotto fun!
Here are some incentives for players:

1) Buy 5 get 1 free (up to 25 tickets in one single
transaction)
2) Double your first deposit for all new signups in their first week (e.g.
deposit 20 Pounds and get 40 Pounds in your account)
3) The standard Player Rewards program (free tickets each month based on
the amount purchased in the previous month - details on the Player Rewards
section of our sites)

1. Trim the chicken of excess fat and sinew and preheat oven to 180°C
2. Cook the macaroni in a large pan of rapidly boiling, salted water until
al dente - drain
2. Slice the chicken breasts into long strips, then cut into cubes
3. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan and cook the chicken cubes quickly
over a high heat until browned, but not cooked - drain on paper towels
4. Add the onion, carrot and bacon to the pan and stir over a medium heat
for 10 minutes
5. Add the baby marrow and soup, bring to the boil and simmer for 5
minutes - remove from the heat
6. Combine the pasta, chicken, tomato mixture and sour cream, season with
salt and pepper to taste
7. Spread mixture into a shallow oven-proof dish and top with grated
cheese - bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through and golden

Fifteen years ago my wife and I moved into a
retirement development on Florida 's Southeast
coast - The Delray/Boca/Boynton Golf, Spa,
Bath and Tennis Club on Lake Fake-A-Hatchee.
There are 3000 lakes in Florida......only three are real.
Our biggest retirement concern was time management.
What were we going to do all day?
Let me assure you, passing the time is not a problem.
Your days will be eaten up by simple, daily activities.
Just getting out of your car takes 15 minutes.
Trying to find where you parked takes 20 minutes.
It takes 1/2 hour on the check-out line in
and one hour to return the item the next day.
Let me take you through a typical day.
We get up at 5:00 AM, have a quick breakfast
and join the early morning 'Walk and Talk Club.'
There are about 30 of us, and rain or shine
we walk around the streets, all talking at once.
Every development has some late
risers who stay in bed until 6 AM.
After a nimble walk avoiding irate drivers
out to make us road kill, we go back home,
shower and change for the next activity.
My wife goes directly to the pool for her underwater
Pilate’s class, followed by gasping for breath and CPR.
I put on my 'Ask me about my Grandchildren' T-shirt,
my plaid mid-calf shorts, my black socks and sandals
and go to the clubhouse lobby for a nice nap.
Before you know it, it's time for lunch.
We go to to partake of the many tasty
samples dispensed by ladies in white hairnets.
All free!
After a filling lunch, if we don't have any doctor
appointments, we might go to the flea market
to see if any new white belts have come in,
or to buy a Rolex watch for $2.00.
We're usually back home by 2 PM to get ready for dinner.
People start lining up for the early bird about 3 PM,
but we get there by 3:45 PM, because we're late eaters.
The dinners are very popular because
of the large portions they serve.
You can take home enough food for the next day's lunch
and dinner, including extra bread, crackers, packets of mustard,
relish, ketchup and Sweet-and-Low along with mints.
At 5:30 PM we're home ready to watch the 6 o'clock news.
By 6:30 PM we're fast asleep.
Then we get up and make 5 or 6 trips to the
bathroom during the night, and it's time to
get up and start a new day all over again.
Doctor related activities eat up most of your retirement time.
I enjoy reading old magazines in sub-zero
temperatures in the waiting room, so I don't mind.
Calling for test results also helps the days fly by.
It takes at least half an hour just getting
through the doctor's phone menu.
Then there's the hold time until you're
connected to the right party.
Sometimes they forget you're holding,
and the whole office goes off to lunch.
Should you find you still have time on
your hands, volunteering provides a
rewarding opportunity to help the less fortunate.
Florida has the largest concentration of
seniors under five feet tall and they need our help.
I myself am a volunteer for
'The Vertically Challenged Over 80.'
I coach their basketball team,
'The Arthritic Avengers.'
The hoop is only 4.5 feet from the floor.
You should see the look of confidence on
their faces when they make a slam dunk.
Food shopping is a problem for short seniors
or 'bottom feeders' as we call them, because
they can't reach the items on the upper shelves.
There are many foods they've never tasted.
After shopping, most seniors can't remember
where they parked their cars and wander the
parking lot for hours while their food defrosts.
Lastly, it's important to choose a
development with an impressive name.
Italian names are very popular in Florida.
They convey world traveler,
uppity sophistication and wealth.
Where would you rather live?
Murray 's Condos or The Lakes Of Venice?
There's no difference.
They're both owned by Murray,
who happens to be a cheapskate.
I hope this material has been of help to you future retirees.
If I can be of any further assistance,
please look me up when you're in Florida.
I live in The Leaning Condos of Pisa on Boynton Beach.

COWS

A NAMIBIAN CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• You make biltong...

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
• You are surprised when the cow drops dead.

A SOUTH AFRICAN CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• You go on strike because you want three cows.
• They get stolen, so you blame the previous regime' and steal someone
else's cows and shoot their owner.

A ZIMBABWEAN CORPORATION
• A farmer has two cows.
• You take over his farm, eat both cows and wait for the international
community to supply more.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• You re-design them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and
produce twenty times the milk.
• You then create clever cow cartoon images called Cowkimon and market
them World-Wide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and
milk themselves.

A BRITISH CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• Both are mad.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• You pray to them for food.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION
• You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.
• You break for lunch.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• You count them and learn you have five cows.
• You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
• You count them again and learn you have 12 cows.
• You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A SWISS CORPORATION
• You have 5000 cows, none of which belong to you.
• You charge others for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• You have 300 people milking them.
• You claim full employment, high bovine productivity, and arrest the
newsman who reported the numbers.

AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION
• You have two cows.
• The one on the left is kinda cute...

A sweet grandmother telephoned St. Joseph 's Hospital. She timidly
asked, "Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient
is doing?"
The operator said, "I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room
number of the patient?"
The grandmother in her weak, tremulous voice said, "Norma Findlay, Room
302."
The operator replied, "Let me put you on hold while I check with the
nurse's station for that room."
After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said, "I have
good news. Her nurse just told me that Norma is doing well. Her blood
pressure is fine; her blood work just came back normal and her physician,
Dr. Cohen, has scheduled her to be discharged tomorrow."
The grandmother said, "Thank you. That's wonderful. I was so worried. God
bless you for the good news.The operator replied, "You're more than
welcome. Is Norma your daughter?"
The grandmother said, "No, I'm Norma Findlay in Room 302. No one tells me
shit."

Some great resorts we have visited

We visited Ekuthuleni,
click here for my report and
some pictures.
You can also see some more photos
here

Since Ekuthuleni we have also been to Hazyview Cabanas, for my write-up
and pictures click here

One of my favourite species to photograph. They always seem so alert
with beautiful shiny eyes. This was taken in the Kgalagadi
Transfrontier Park, my favourite park for wildlife photos!

The black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are slender creatures,
weighing 5 to 10 kg. Their sides, head and legs are a sandy tan to
reddish gold in colour. Their back has a saddle from head to tip of
tail that is black and white mixed hairs.

Often the edges of the saddle are framed in bright rust. They have a
thick under coat for cold weather, which they shed in the spring.

These jackal are the most abundant and widespread of the larger
carnivores in sub-Saharan Africa.

They are cunning creatures. Their senses are extremely acute and
well-developed, especially their senses of hearing and smell. If
startled, a jackal will retreat a certain distance and then circle
back in a wide arc in order to interpret the scent of the disturbance.

They spent many thousands of years becoming an efficient sub-predator,
adapting to and learning from the top predators around them. They tend
to be territorial and will become aggressive only to defend the
boundaries of their territories.

Black-backed jackals are active both during the day and night. When
active, this species is usually out searching/scavenging for food.
Normal movement is at a trot; when hunting an individual walks slowly
with its ears pricked and alert.

The surviving success of the black backed jackals is greatly due to
their highly adaptable nature. Their relatively small size, mobility,
and lack of specialised food and habitat requirements mean that they
can adapt to environmental change, which has decidedly affected the
way they behave.

Consequently, they have expanded their ranges into agricultural areas
and urban habitats in some localities, and also increased or
maintained stable population sizes while many carnivores of similar
size or greater have succumbed to human pressures such as persecution,
encroachment, and habitat loss.

Because of their migrations towards agricultural areas; if you mention
black-backed jackals to a sheep farmer in South Africa, he would
probably reach for his gun.

This would be the worst thing to do. Jackals are normally seen as
being wary of humans and are not considered "aggressive" towards
larger animals like sheep. But when one of them kills a sheep, farmers
take their vengeance by killing all the jackals in sight. The farmer
may kill the alpha-male, and this puts in motion an evil cycle during
which both the farmer and jackal become worse off.

The black-jackals, like all other jackals, are territorial and work in
pairs. Without the alpha-male the territory is fair game and there are
plenty of sub-males around, waiting to exploit the gap. Being less
established, they may have had to become inventive in their hunting.
Maybe they have learned to kill sheep. They'll take over the range and
teach other youngsters their skills.

By dominating breeding cycles, alpha-females can keep whole
territories unproductive. But the interlopers will generally chase her
away once her mate is killed, and without her younger females will
begin to breed. There will soon be more pups around, and lots of dumb
sheep to feed them on.

This means a higher survival rate, which means more jackals. Pretty
soon the farmer is losing considerable amounts of his flock. To him it
seems like a vendetta-each generation is harder to trap, harder to
poison, harder to fool and harder to kill.

Cathy Buckle has started writing again from Zimbabwe, her letter
is below.

Here is Cathy's letter:

Dear Family and Friends,

The first real rain of the season arrived in the last week of
October.
It emerged from low purple clouds highlighted by vivid streaks of
white, crackling, lightning. After six dry months, we sat below,
expectant, panting, longing! It was a typically African storm, the
rain pounding down so hard that in minutes everything was afloat.
Sheets of brown water covered the ground in a few minutes and when
they started to run, they carried away the detritus of half a
year:
soil, leaves, sticks, pods and everything not physically attached.
You couldn’t hear yourself think over the noise of the rain
banging in the gutters and hammering on the roof. The choking dust
of months was washed off trees, walls and windows and in half an
hour it was all over.

Thirty millimetres of rain (just over an inch) had fallen and from
the cracks and crevices and holes in the ground, life emerged. The
voices of a myriad frogs rang out from every direction: some sweet
and melodious, others shrill and urgent and then there were the
deep, guttural croaks of the big boys. Shiny black C/hongololos
/(millipedes) came from unknown places and were soon everywhere,
their millions of red legs moving in a strange undulating wave.
All sorts of creeping, crawling, running and flying insects
appeared. Some welcome ones like sausage flies and flying ants;
some strange ones like rhino beetles and some terrifying ones like
huge rain spiders and other furry coated, long legged beasties.

So life returned to Zimbabwe and for the residents of my home town
this first rain brought a unanimous, almost audible sigh of relief
as we ran outside with buckets, bowls and baths. For five days the
whole town had been without water. Dry taps, empty geysers, hollow
cisterns and echoing tanks. Not a drop of water in the entire
town; not for schools or hospitals, industry or residential areas.
This water crisis had been months, years in the making. Corroded
pipes, collapsing pumps and the main town dam visibly polluted
with running sewage. We’ve been limping on, getting water for two
or three hours a day if we are lucky; water that is always
discoloured, often greasy and smelly and water that you never,
never, drink before boiling and filtering. The local Municipality
chose not to warn residents that we were about to have a major
crisis and then not to tell us what was going on or how long it
may be before we got water again. The Municipality sent out the
monthly accounts, delivered by hand, door to door but didn’t
bother to even attach a note explaining the water crisis or
advising us what to do. And so we all did our own thing.

Outside gates around the town huge lines of people gathered with
bottles, buckets and containers – these were the houses where
owners had boreholes and were prepared to share. School children
each had to take a 5 litre bottle of water to school every day.
The roads in the mornings were filled with children carrying
satchels and suitcases and parents and relations following behind
carrying their water rations.
The main bakery in the town drew water into bowsers from a private
borehole in order to keep producing bread. In vleis and open areas
wells were dug by desperate residents of the town. Shallow holes
with unprotected walls and uncovered surfaces. Morning, noon and
night women with buckets and 20 litre containers trekked backwards
and forwards to these open pools to draw water

With no water for toilets people were defecating in the bush, the
same bush were wells were being opened up; the same bush where
people have been dumping litter because the Municipality have
stopped collecting it again. As the days passed people began doing
their laundry alongside, or even in, the open wells. Some
residents complained to selfish women that they were soiling the
water for everyone else, telling them to carry water away and wash
clothes at home. The complaints were met with the same absurd
rhetoric of life in Zimbabwe:
critics were accused of being MDC supporters.

How we didn’t get an outbreak of cholera or another major water
borne disease is a miracle. I pray that I am not speaking too soon
as our water crisis continues and our uncollected waste and filth
festers and rots and runs down into those open wells.
Until next week, thanks for reading,
love cathy.
30 October 2010

www.cathybuckle.com
. For information on my new book: "INNOCENT VICTIMS" or my
previous
books, "African Tears" and "Beyond Tears," or to
subscribe/unsubscribe to this newsletter, please write to:
cbuckle@mango.zw

This South Africa - news headlines

Source:
SouthAfrica.info
The all-in-one official guide
and web portal to South Africa.

Recipe Requests

Looking for a specific South African recipe?Email me
and I will do my best to find it for
you!

1. Place a third of the flour in a large bowl and stir in 1 tsp salt
2. Place the yeast, sugar a 1 cup of warm water in a small bowl and stir
well - set aside in a warm draught-free place for 10 minutes, or until
bubbles appear on the surface - the mixture should be frothy and slightly
increased in volume
3. Add the yeast mixture to the flour and salt mixture in the bowl and
stir to make a thin, lumpy paste
4. Cover with a tea towel and set aside in a warm, draught-free place for
45 minutes, or until doubled in size
5. Stir in the remaining flour, the oil and 125g warm water
6. Mix with a wooden spoon until a rough dough forms
7. Transfer to a lightly floured work surface and knead for 10 - 12
minutes incorporating as little extra flour as possible to keep the dough
soft and moist, but not sticky
8. Form into a ball
9. Oil a clean large bowl and roll the dough around in it to lightly coat
with the oil
10. Cut a cross on top, cover with a tea towel and set aside in a warm
place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size
11. Lightly grease a baking tray and dust with flour
12. Punch down the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll out to 30 x
25 x 1cm
13. Squeeze any excess liquid from the olives and toss to coat in the
extra flour
14. Scatter over the dough and top with the oregano
15. Roll up tightly lengthways, pressing firmly to expel any air pockets
as you roll
16. Press the ends together to form an oval loaf 25cm long - transfer to a
prepared tray, join-side-down
17. Make 3 shallow diagonal slashes across the top
18. Slide the tray into a large plastic bag and leave in a warm place for
45 minutes until doubled in bulk
19. Preheat the oven to 220°C, brush the top of the loaf with olive oil
and bake for 30 minutes - reduce the heat to 180°C and bake for another 5
minutes
20. Cool on a wire rack and serve warm or cold
NOTE
Instead of oregano you can use finely chopped rosemary. Fold it through
the dough and sprinkle whole leaves on the top after brushing with olive
oil
________________________________________Tortillas

185g plain flour, sifted
150g maize meal, sifted
250ml warm water

1. Combine the flour and maize meal in a large bowl
2. Make a well in the centre and then gradually add the warm water - using
a knife mix to a stiff dough
3. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for 3 minutes
or until smooth
4. Divide the dough into 16 portions
5. Roll out one portion on a lightly floured surface to a 20cm round - set
aside, covered with plastic wrap and repeat with the remaining portions
6. Heat a heavy-based frying pan or flatplate
7. Place 1 tortilla in the pan and when the edges begin to curl slightly,
turn and cook the other side
8. A few seconds each side is ample cooking time - If residual flour
begins to burn in the pan, wipe it out with paper towels
NOTE
Tortillas will remain fresh for up to a week in an airtight container.
Warm quickly in the oven or microwave. Stale tortillas can be torn into
bite-sized pieces and fried in oil until crisp
________________________________________Focaccia (Italian flatbread)

1. Put the sugar, yeast and 2 Tbsp warm water in a small bowl, mix well
and leave in a warm place for 10 minutes until bubbles appear on the
surface
2. Place the flour and salt in a large bowl and mix well
3. Add 30ml olive oil, the yeast mixture and 3 cups warm water and mix
with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together in a loose dough
4. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and start kneading to form a soft,
moist, but non-sticky dough, adding a little extra flour or warm water as
needed
5. Knead for 8 minutes, or until smooth, or until the impression made by a
finger springs straight back out
6. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and roll around
to coat
7. Cut a cross on top with a sharp knife - cover with a tea towel and
leave in a dry, warm place for 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size
8. Punch down the dough on a lightly floured surface and divide in half -
one or both portions can be frozen at this stage
9. Roll one portion out to 28 x 20cm
10. Use the heels of your hands to work from the middle outwards and shape
to measure 38 x 28cm
11. Lightly oil a baking tray and dust with flour
12. Place the dough in the centre and slide the tray inside a plastic bag
- leave in a warm place for 2 hours, or until doubled in size
13. Preheat the oven to 220°C, brush the surface of the dough with some of
the remaining olive oil and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden
14. Transfer to a wire rack to cool - allow plenty of air to circulate
under the loaf to keep the crust crisp
15. Repeat with the remaining dough if making 2 loaves - best eaten with 6
hours of baking
VARIATIONS
Add them when the dough has risen for the second time
Brush the top with olive oil, scatter 200g green olives over the dough and
press them down firmly - sprinkle with seas salt and rosemary sprigs and
bake
Brush the top with olive oil, scatter 100g diced pancetta (or bacon) over
the dough and press it down firmly. Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan
cheese and bake.
________________________________________Lemon Pepper Bread

1. Preheat the oven to 210°C and brush 2 oven trays with melted butter or
oil
2. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl and add the lemon pepper, or
rind and pepper
3. Using your fingertips, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles
coarse breadcrumbs - stir in the chives and cheese
4. Stir the vinegar into the milk (it should look slightly curdled), add
to the flour mixture and mix to a soft dough, adding more milk if the
dough is too stiff
5. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth -
divide the dough into 2 portions
6. Place on the prepared trays and press out into a circle approximately
2.5cm thick - score each with a knife into 8 wedges, cutting lightly into
the top of the bread
7. Dust lightly with flour and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until a deep
golden colour and sounds hollow when tapped on the base
8. Serve warm with butter
________________________________________Rosemary Bread Trios

1. Combine the yeast, caster sugar and 125ml of warm water in a small
bowl, cover and set aside in a warm place for 10 minutes, or until frothy
2. Sift the flour into a large bowl and stir in the extra caster sugar and
salt
3. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm milk, oil and frothy
yeast - mix to a soft dough - gather into a ball and turn out onto a
lightly floured surface
4. Knead for 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic
5. Add a little extra flour if the dough becomes too sticky
6. Place in a large oiled bowl, cover loosely with cling wrap and leave in
a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size
7. Punch down the dough, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface and
knead for 1 minute
8. Lightly grease 2 large baking trays
9. Divide the dough into 10 pieces and form each piece into 3 balls -
keeping the remaining pieces covered - and place close together on the
prepared baking tray
10. Add a sprig of rosemary to the centre of each trio - repeat with the
remaining dough and lay each set separately on the baking tray
11. Cover the trios with a damp tea towel and set aside for 20 minutes, or
until well risen
12. Brush the trios lightly with the combined egg yolk and 1 tsp of water
and sprinkle with the sea salt flakes
13. Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes, or until golden brown
14. Allow to cool on a wire rack and replace the rosemary sprigs with
fresh ones before serving
________________________________________Cheese and Herb Pull-Apart Loaf

1. Combine the yeast, sugar and 125ml of warm water in a small bowl, cover
and set aside for 10 minutes in a warm place until frothy
2. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl - make a well in the centre and
pour in 1 cup warm milk and the frothy yeast - mix to a soft dough
3. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth
4. Put the dough into an oiled bowl, cover loosely with wrap and leave for
1 hour until doubled in size
5. Punch down and knead for 1 minute - divide the dough in half
6. Shape each half into 19 flat discs, 6cm in diameter
7. Mix the fresh herbs with the Cheddar and put 2 tsp onto each disc -
press another disc on top and repeat with the remaining discs and herb
mixture
8. Grease a 21 x 10.5 x 6.5cm loaf tin
9. Stand the filled discs upright in the prepared tin, squashing them
together
10. Cover with a damp tea towel and set aside in a warm place for 30
minutes, or until well risen
11. Preheat the oven to a hot 210°C
12. Glaze with a little milk and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown
and crusty
________________________________________Beer Bread with Herbs and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

1. Preheat the oven to 210°C and brush a 25 x 15 cm loaf tin with melted
butter
2. Mix oregano, parsley, basil, sun-dried tomatoes. pepper, cheese and
garlic
3. Sift the flour, salt and sugar into a large bowl and make a well in the
centre
4. Add the herb mixture an beer - stir with a wooden spoon for 1 minute
(it should be very moist - add a little more beer if necessary)
5. Spoon into the tin and smooth the surface
6. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 180°C and bake for 30
minutes more or until well browned and cooked through
7. Turn out onto a wire rack and cool
________________________________________Pitta Bread

1. Place the yeast, sugar and 375ml luke warm water in a bowl and stir
until dissolved - cover and leave for 10 minutes, or until bubbles have
formed on top
2. Process the flour, yeast mixture and oil in a food processor for 30
seconds, or until mixture forms a ball - or if you prefer, place the
ingredients in a bowl and mix with a wooden spoon, or your hand, until the
mixture forms a smooth dough
3. Turn the dough onto a well floured surface and knead until smooth and
elastic
4. Place in a well-oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, then a tea towel
and leave in a warm place for 20 minutes, or until doubled in size
5. Punch down the dough and divide into 12 equal portions
6. Roll each portion into a 5mm thick round - place on a baking sheet and
brush well with water
7. Stand and allow to rise for another 20 minutes
8. Preheat the oven to 250°C
9. If the dough has dried, brush again with water
10. Bake for 4 - 5 minutes - the pitta bread should be soft and pale,
slightly swollen and hollow inside
11. Eat warm , or cool on wire racks and serve with a salad
________________________________________Olive Spirals

1. Mix the yeast, sugar and 125ml warm water in a small bowl, cover and
set aside for 10 minutes in a warm place until frothy
2. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the centre
3. Add the frothy yeast, oil and 250ml warm water and mix to a soft dough
and gather into a ball
4. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, or until
smooth
5. Cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and set aside for 1 hour, or
until well risen
6. Process the olives, Parmesan and garlic in a food processor until
chopped - with the motor running, add the Tbsp oil and process to a paste
6. Punch down the dough and knead for 1 minute - roll out to a rectangle
42 x 35cm
7. Spread with the olive paste, leaving a border along one long side -
roll up length-ways, ending with the clear long side
8. Cut into 12 slices and place close together on a greased baking tray
9. Cover with a damp tea towel and set aside in a warm place for 30
minutes, or until well risen
10. Preheat the oven to 200°C and bake for 35 minutes, or until golden
brown
________________________________________Moroccan Flatbread

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and lightly grease a baking tray
2. Put 75g flour, sugar, yeast, 1 tsp salt and 315ml tepid water in a
bowl, cover and leave for 10 minutes until frothy
3. Sift the paprika, cornflour and remaining flour into a bowl - add the
oil, then stir in the yeast mixture
4. Mix to a firm dough and knead until smooth - cover and leave in a warm
place for 20 minutes to rise
5. Divide into 16 portions and roll each into a ball, then flatten into
8cm rounds
6. Place on the baking tray. brush with the egg and sprinkle with the
sesame seeds
7. Cover and set aside for 10 minutes, or until puffed up
8. Bake for 12 minutes, or until golden

Links/Adverts

Recipe CD

I have decided to simplify the way I sell my recipe eBook collection.

I am putting them all on one CD in an English and Afrikaans folder,
over 100 recipe eBooks in all. That means less than R1 a recipe book, a
real bargain! Most of the books come with resale rights so you can sell
them individually if you wish.

If you are interested in my Super CD
just click here and I will send you my banking details. Remember to
include you postal address.

As soon as I mail the CD I will email you the post office tracking
number as proof of despatch.

FunkyMunky
Traditional South African Recipes - A comprehensive collection of
Traditional South African recipes.
Tradisionele Suid Afrikaanse Resepte - Traditional South African Recipes
in Afrikaans
Christmas Recipes - A selection of Christmas Recipes for you to try!
101 Camping and Outdoor Recipes - Recipes for you to try next time you go
camping
400 Refreshing punch recipes - Some great ideas for liquid refreshment at
your next party
Favourite Christmas Cookies - 34 Great cookie recipes for you to enjoy!
Christmas Cookie Recipes - A delicious collection of Christmas Cookie
Recipes
A Homemade Christmas - 100 Simple and delicious recipes for your special
holiday meals
Holiday Candy and Fudge - 42 Great candy recipes, a hit with kids of all
ages!
Kids Fun Recipes - 120 Fun and Delicious Recipes
Delicious Puddings - A Collection of 167 Pudding Recipes
Pumpkin Pie - Pumpkin pies and more!
Salad Recipes - A Collection of Easy to Follow Salad Recipes
Summer Party Cookbook - The name says it all!
Pampercat and Pamperdog - Recipe treats for your feline and canine friends
80 Seasonal Recipes from around the world - A selection of festive recipes
from the four corners of the globe!
Crockpot Recipes - In South Africa we would probably call this Potjiekos
International Recipes - A selection of recipes from all over the world
Fish and Game Recipes - A selection of mouthwatering recipes
Lemonade - A large selection of lemonade recipes
Pizzeria - Try some of these great pizza recipes
Casseroles - 17 pages of mouthwatering casserole recipes
Low Fat Recipes - Watching your cholesterol? Then this is for you!
Soup Recipes - Ideal for those cold winter evenings
Chicken Recipes - 300 Delicious Chicken Recipes
Amish Recipes - 65 Tried and True Traditional Amish Recipes
Apple Recipes - Mouth watering apple recipes
Blue Ribbon Recipes - 490 Award Winning Recipes
The Bread Book - The bread and biscuit baker's and sugar boiler's
assistant
Chocolate Delights - Deliciously decadent and delightful recipes for the
chocaholic in you
Carolina Mountain Cooking - Created from the recipes and memories of two
of the Carolina Mountain's most talented cooks.
Egg Recipes - 111 Great Egg Recipes
Great Gifts in a Jar - A personally made gift is usually more appreciated!
Italian Recipes - A collection of 185 delicious Italian dishes
Smoothies - 126 Easy recipes for maximum sports performance
Top Secret Recipes - Top secret famous recipes
Wings - The ultimate chicken wing cookbook
The Barmaster - Essential tips and techniques for bartenders
Be a Grillmaster - How to host the perfect bbq!
101 Good Jam Recipes - Make your own jams, 101 recipes for you to try
Deep Fryer Recipes - 101 Recipes for the Deep Fryer
Frozen Dessert Recipes - From ice cream to yoghurt - 170 pages of
mouthwatering recipes.
Recipes from South of the Border - 247 pages of typically Mexican recipes
Various Rice Dishes - 32 Great Rice Dishes
The Appetizer Collection - More than 150 pages of great ideas for
appetizers
The Big Book of Cookies - From Almond Bars to Zucchini Bars, they are all
here, 233 pages of cookie recipes
Salad Recipes - A Collection of Easy to Follow Salad Recipes
Delicious Diabetic Recipes - A Collection of over 500 yummy recipes.
Cheesecake Recipes - Nearly 100 pages of yummilicious cheesecake recipes!

Bonus eBooks

Something for the gardeners
Organic Secrets - Everything you wanted to know about organic food

Pricing: The
CD's are R100 each (R130 for next day Speed Services delivery in SA).
Order both and the price is R160. If you prefer the Speed Services option
I will give you a parcel tracking number once payment is received.

Silversands Online casino

We usually go to Carnival City, our local entertainment complex about
twice a month for a movie, a good meal and a flutter at the tables or
machines. Most times it is crowded and my favourite machines are taken.
Then I came across Silversands online casino. You simply sign up, download some
software and you can practice with fun money to your heart's content
before you play with the real thing.
Give it a try,
Click Here .

Children's Stories on CDFind it hard to get quality
children’s stories? Join the popular Anna Emm Story Club in Afrikaans or
English, and start adding to your child’s CD collection at an early age!
Collect al 96 original stories (on 48 CDs!) over 2 years, or join for a
minimum of 3 months - you decide! Receive 2 new CDs with original
children’s stories every month! Anna Emm Productions has already produced
more than 500 new children’s stories on CD.
Click here
to join . Ideal gift for children and grandchildren.

To subscribe to this
newsletter and view previous newsletters, click
here, to subscribe to my Afrikaans newsletter, click
here. To unsubscribe, click
on the appropriate link above and unsubscribe or email me at :
peter@funkymunky.co.za